Coca-Cola Caravan coming to Lanier Islands Resort | Suwanee’s new ‘Bookshelf’: A mural that lets you judge a wall by its cover | Gwinnett native Brandon Brigman changes life through CrossFit Top Stories for December 2nd
Publish Date: December 2nd
PRE-ROLL: BUFORD HOLIDAY FESTIVAL
From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.
Today is Tuesday, December 2nd and Happy Birthday to Nelly Furtado
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia.
Coca-Cola Caravan coming to Lanier Islands Resort
Suwanee’s new ‘Bookshelf’: A mural that lets you judge a wall by its cover
Gwinnett native Brandon Brigman changes life through CrossFit
All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!
Break 1: Kia Mall of Georgia - Downtown Lawrenceville Holiday
STORY 1:Coca-Cola Caravan coming to Lanier Islands Resort
The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is rolling back into Lanier Islands Resort on Saturday, Dec. 13, lighting up the night alongside the resort’s Magical Nights of Lights. Picture it: a glowing 18-wheeler, mile after mile of twinkling displays, and all the holiday vibes you can handle.
From 5 to 8:30 p.m., the Caravan will park outside Game Changer, where you can snap pics with Santa, sample new Coke flavors, and browse holiday merch.
Beyond the Caravan, there’s Game Changer—an indoor playground with arcade games, axe throwing, and festive cocktails—and License to Chill Snow Island, featuring snow tubing, skating, and carnival rides.
Magical Nights of Lights runs nightly through Jan. 4, with carload pricing starting at $35. Discounts are available for military, first responders, educators, and toy or food donors on select nights. For details, call 770-945-8787.
STORY 2: Suwanee’s new ‘Bookshelf’: A mural that lets you judge a wall by its cover
A bold new mural now greets visitors at Suwanee’s Town Center on Main, and it’s a stunner. Titled “Bookshelf,” the piece was created by renowned artist Pat Perry, whose jaw-dropping, photorealistic murals have popped up all over the globe.
Back in early 2025, Suwanee put out a call for artists, and nearly 90 submissions poured in. Perry’s work stood out—his knack for blending realism with thoughtful, site-specific designs won over the Suwanee Public Arts Commission (with a little help from the Gwinnett Creativity Fund).
Over two and a half weeks, Perry turned the walls outside the Suwanee branch of the Gwinnett Public Library into a vibrant tribute to storytelling. The mural’s placement—right by the pedestrian bridge—was no accident. It ties together the library, the park, and the new Town Center on Main.
But here’s the cool part: “Bookshelf” isn’t just a mural. It’s a puzzle for book lovers. Perry didn’t paint books or readers; instead, he filled the piece with objects that hint at famous works of literature. A pearl for Steinbeck’s The Pearl. Chewing gum for To Kill a Mockingbird. Matches for McCarthy’s The Road. Over 20 literary Easter eggs are hidden in the mural, waiting for sharp-eyed readers to uncover them.
It’s not just art—it’s a celebration of imagination, curiosity, and the stories that shape us.
STORY 3: Gwinnett native Brandon Brigman changes life through CrossFit
For Brandon Brigman, CrossFit isn’t just a workout—it’s his whole world. It’s where he transformed his body, met his wife, and found his calling.
Back in 2010, Brandon, a former 270-pound offensive lineman from West Georgia, stumbled into NoExcuses CrossFit in Suwanee. He was bored of treadmills and marathon training, so he gave CrossFit a shot. Ten minutes into his first workout, he was wrecked. “I thought I was in shape—I’d just run a marathon. Nope.”
Fast forward: he became a trainer, then the gym’s general manager, and in 2018, he bought the place. Now, NoExcuses is thriving, with 100 members, six employees, and a whole lot of heart.
“It’s not just fitness,” Brandon says. “It’s accountability, community, and people who actually care if you show up.”
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We’ll be right back
Break 2: Ingles Markets - Sugar Hill Holiday
STORY 4: McClure High senior earns statewide recognition for leadership
Jasmine Osorio-Antonio is already making waves—and she’s just getting started.
A senior at McClure Health Science High in Duluth, Jasmine juggles more than most adults. Coding Club founder? Check. DECA leader? Yep. Junior Achievement honoree? Absolutely. In October, she was named one of Junior Achievement of Georgia’s Nineteen Under Nineteen, a recognition for students who are shaking things up with leadership and innovation.
Her résumé is stacked: Horatio Alger Scholar, Alexander Hamilton Scholar, NCWIT Honorable Mention, and finalist in the Girls Who Code AI + Sustainability Challenge. Oh, and she’s in the top 10% of her class.
But Jasmine’s not just about accolades. She’s hands-on. Her Coding Club, which she started with a teacher, gives students real-world experience—projects they can actually show off.
And somehow, she still finds time to work three jobs: as a “FANgineer” at Georgia Tech games, a parking lot ambassador near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and helping with her mom’s cleaning business.
Her future? Computer science and business.
STORY 5: Strickland says Georgia’s future ‘on the line’ in attorney general race
State Sen. Brian Strickland is running for Georgia attorney general, and he’s got a lot to say about why.
“I want my boys to grow up in the same Georgia I did,” he said. “We’ve got a good thing going here, but it’s a pivotal time. The wrong person in this seat could change everything.”
Strickland, who’s been in the General Assembly since 2012, has a packed résumé: chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, former floor leader for two governors, and now a candidate to replace Chris Carr. His campaign? Focused on public safety, defending state laws, and tackling new threats like AI-driven crime.
But it’s not all politics. Strickland’s a dad of two young boys, one of whom is autistic. He wears a faded autism awareness bracelet daily, a reminder of the work still needed.
His campaign is grounded in what he calls “common sense” values: supporting law enforcement, protecting families, and ensuring Georgia stays a place people want to call home.
We’ll be right back.
Break 3: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink
STORY 6: GCPS sets new calendars, but religious holiday debate lingers
Gwinnett County Public Schools just rolled out its calendars for the next two school years, and, well, not everyone’s thrilled. Board member Tarece Johnson-Morgan called it “disappointing” and “non-inclusive,” pointing out that the calendar still leans heavily on Christian holidays while leaving out major ones from other faiths, like Ramadan or Rosh Hashanah.
The district says they surveyed families, and most prioritized longer breaks and fewer digital learning days over adding religious holidays. But Johnson-Morgan argues there’s room for a “Yes/And” approach—keeping the current structure while recognizing key non-Christian holidays.
It’s a debate that’s not going away anytime soon in one of the nation’s most diverse districts.
STORY 7: Gwinnett schools preparing to adopt cell phone ban policy
Gwinnett parents, it’s time to weigh in: should cell phones be banned in schools?
The school board is considering a new policy—Policy JCDAF—that would ban personal devices like phones, smartwatches, and tablets starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Exceptions? Only for students with medical or learning plans.
This isn’t just a local idea. It’s tied to Georgia’s new Distraction-Free Education Act, which requires elementary and middle schools to ban phones by 2026. Gwinnett’s proposal goes further, extending restrictions to high schools.
For younger students, the ban would last all day—class, recess, assemblies, everything. High schoolers? They’d get a little more freedom, with phones allowed during lunch.
The district says the goal is to cut distractions and reduce bullying, citing studies showing phone bans can lower bullying by nearly 45%.
Parents, students, and staff can share their thoughts by emailing myschoolboard@gcpsk12.org.
We’ll have closing comments after this
Break 4: GCPS Hiring
Signoff –
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com
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Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill
Strand Marietta – Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre
Holiday Celebration 2025 – City of Sugar Hill
2025 Buford Holiday Festival & Parade All-In-One Flyer
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